SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
For scores of Palestinians – children orphaned in the Gaza war, families who lost their homes, and the thousands reeling from the trauma caused by the conflict – Taawon is a ray of hope.
The humanitarian organisation was among those honoured with this year’s Zayed Award for Human Fraternity in recognition of its long-standing service to the people of Palestine.
Taawon (Welfare Association) was established in 1983 by a group of Palestinian business leaders, professionals, scholars and thinkers across generations – all united by a goal “to help Palestine endure and thrive.”
Championing the Palestinian cause for over four decades, it has grown to become one of the largest developmental organisations in Palestine and the diaspora, including refugee camps in Lebanon.
It has invested more than $1 billion across a wide range of sectors, including education, youth empowerment, orphan care, culture, community development, healthcare, agriculture and emergency humanitarian relief.
And every year, it touches the lives of more than a million Palestinians, half of them women.
“Taawon was born out of the necessity to create people-to-people solidarity,” Dr Tareq Emtairah, Director General of Taawon, told Aletihad.
The organisation’s work covers “all areas of life” that affect Palestinian communities, with particular attention given to vulnerable groups. These include orphans, children with special needs, the elderly, and families whose homes or land are at risk.
When the war on Gaza broke out, however, Taawon shifted its focus to humanitarian relief – as the need for the most basic necessities piled up and emergency assistance became routine. “We delivered essentials such as food, clean water and hygiene kits,” Dr Emtairah said.
The support that Taawon offers to the thousands of people impacted by the war go beyond everyday survival kits; it also works to help them get back on their feet.
“Our focus is also on creating long-term programmes to rebuild lives,” Dr Emtairah said. Among these is the Noor Gaza Orphan Care Programme, which is dedicated to taking care of 20,000 war orphans in Gaza by providing comprehensive support, from healthcare and education to social protection and psychosocial care.
“Psychosocial support is especially important today because of the trauma,” he said.
Taawon places education at the heart of its initiatives; so when university infrastructure crumbled amid the war – the organisation responded by putting together the Isnad Programme. Dr Emtairah said the initiative supports students while helping universities remain economically viable.
An Honour and A ResponsibilityDuring the recently held Zayed Award For Human Fraternity ceremony, Dr Nabil Hani Qaddumi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Taawon, delivered a speech on behalf of the organisation.
Receiving the award was a “tremendous honour” for Taawon, Dr Emtairah said.
“It also renews our moral and operational responsibility to translate this trust into long-term development work that promotes justice, fraternity and human dignity,” he said.
He added that the award echoes the same ideals that the collective lives by.
“The principles of solidarity, fraternity and coexistence are reflected in our work,” Dr Emtairah said, emphasising a shared commitment to enabling people “to live with dignity, hope and safety on their land”.